What happens If Priyanka enters Parliament

Bhubaneswar: (Ajoy Kumar Misra) Congress leader Prinyanka Gandhi Vadra has filed her nomination for the Lok Sabha by-election from Waynad constituency in Kerala vacated by brother Rahul Gandhi. Speculations are rife about the scene in Parliament if she makes it. The Speculations revolve around the position of Rahul Gandhi who is the Leader of Opposition in the lower house of the Parliament.

Priyanka’s first involvement in direct politics was when she was entrusted the charge of western Uttar Pradesh during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and her performance has not been impressinve at all in that poll. Later she was entrusted the charge of Uttar Pradesh Assembly election and the grand old party could muster only two seats in the Assembly. Hence there are mixed opinions about her possibility to enter the Parliament. But considering the electorate in Waynad, pollsters are assured that her entering the House is a near certain.

Priyanka has been kept out of politics deliberately by the Congress first family as many believe due to the apprehension of mother Sonia Gandhi who under no circumstances would like her son Rahul to be humiliated in any manner. But her due has been finally given to her by way of the Wayanad seat.

RaGa in politics has not been taken serious so far despite the Congress improving its tally in the Lok Sabha to 99 in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the earlier 44 during the 2019 polls. In contrast Priyanka is known as more astute in politics. Hence the first clash of personality will occur if the daughter of the first Congress family enters the parliament. Both siblings shall be representing the same party in the House and participate in debates and make attempts to corner the NDA or Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House and outside. The members in the House shall be eager to listen to both of them on important issues and at every step try to compare and evaluate. An eye shall be on the balance and the tilt if any.

There has been a clamour in a section of the party to provide an entry to Priyanka into Lok Sabha. This section feels she is responsive, good listener of suggestions. It is another things how she reacts to situations. She is a much better speaker than RaGa and suave unlike the brother. When Priyanka enters the Parliament—if at all she wins the elections—the media glare is bound to be on her as opposed to brother Rahul. This will be an aspect that need to be digested by the people who rally around the senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

It will all depend on Priyanka to choose her counselors cautiously. The general impression among the people in the country is that Rahul is not adequately or properly guided by his advisors/counselors. The re-entry of Acharya Prmod Krishnanam is also another likelyhood with Priyanka entering active electoral politics. The Acharya is known to be a very close advisor of Priyanka. In the past several Congress leaders have admitted that Priyanka is a reflection of grandmother Indira Gandhi and has similar temperament.